System and method for providing multimedia service using a mobile communication terminal

ABSTRACT

A system and method for providing multimedia service using a mobile communication terminal comprising the steps of accessing a web server of an IP address in response to a request for multimedia information from a user via an Internet, receiving the requested multimedia information from the web server and displaying the multimedia information on a display as a moving image.

PRIORITY

This application claims priority to an application entitled “System andMethod for Providing Multimedia Service Using a Mobile CommunicationTerminal” filed in the Korean Industrial Property Office on Jun. 3, 2000and assigned Serial No. 2000-30612, the contents of which are herebyincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a mobile communicationterminal, and in particular to a system and method for providingmultimedia service by using a mobile communication terminal.

2. Description of the Related Art

Generally, multimedia information includes voice and image data.Recently, a home or in-house computer and a television with a set-topbox, connected to multimedia servers via wire networks, support variousmultimedia services such as movie service, traffic information serviceand Internet search service.

With the improvement in data processing capability of the mobilecommunication terminal, many attempts have been made to apply suchmultimedia service to the mobile communication terminal. For example, awireless data service using the mobile communication terminal providesall kinds of service, such as Internet search service through PCcommunication, Internet access service, and facsimiletransmission/reception service as well as conventional file transferservice via a wireless communication network provided by the existingPSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) and PSDN (Public Switched DataNetwork).

With the help of the wireless data service, a user can make and manage amobile office performing office work without regard to time and place.In addition, attempts to apply multimedia service such as VOD(Video-On-Demand) service, traffic information service, and securityservice have been provided to the mobile communication terminal in theconventional wire network.

SUMMARY OF THE INVNETION

An object of the present invention is to provide a system and method forproviding multimedia service using a mobile communication terminal.

To accomplish the above and other objects, the system and method inaccordance with the present invention comprises the steps of accessing aweb server of an IP address in response to a request for multimediainformation from a user via the Internet, receiving the requestedmultimedia information from the web server, and displaying themultimedia information on a display as a moving image.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become more apparent from the following detaileddescription when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a mobile communication system formultimedia service according to an embodiment of the present invention;[IN FIG. 1, 114 SHOULD BE “VIDEO SERVER” AND 116 SHOULD BE “VIDEOCONTENTS”.]

FIG. 2 illustrates protocol stacks of elements of the multimedia servicesystem shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of a mobile communication terminal towhich the present invention is applicable; [WE SUGGEST TO CHANGE“EAR-MICROPHONE” 218 TO “EARPHONE” 218 AND CHANGE KEY INPUT SECTION 204TO 205.]

FIGS. 4A [CHANGE 302 “MUNU” TO “MENU” AND CHANGE 312 “ADDESSED” TO“ACCESSED”.], 4B, and 4C are flow charts illustrating a procedure forperforming multimedia services according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of images on the display of the mobilecommunication terminal during VOD service according to an embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of an image on the display during thetraffic information service according to an embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of an image on the display during thesecurity service according to an embodiment of the present invention.[FIG. 7(D) IS UPSIDE DOWN.]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described hereinbelow with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the followingdescription, well-known functions or constructions are not described indetail since they would obscure the invention in unnecessary detail.

With reference to FIG. 1, a block diagram of a mobile communicationsystem for multimedia service according to an embodiment of the presentinvention is shown, where a mobile station (MS) 100 receives multimediainformation such as audio/video data and outputs the received multimediainformation through a speaker (SPK) and a color LCD (Liquid CrystalDisplay) after demodulation. A mobile switching center (MSC) 104, incooperation with IWF (Interworking Function) 106 connected to the MSC104, accesses web servers 114, 118 and 122 connected to an IP (InternetProtocol) network, Internet 112, and transmits/receives radio data bysupporting wireless data transmission/reception protocol. Further, theMSC 104 enables the MS 100 to transmit/receive the radio data to/fromthe web servers 114, 118 and 122 by connecting a request call forspecific data service from the MS 100 and performing data repetitionprotocol for repeating the data from the MS 100. A Base Station (BS) 102receives a radio signal for a call connection from the MS 100 located inits cell and informs the MSC 104 of the reception of the radio signal.

The video server 114, as an Internet service provider, contains videocontents 116, in which various video data such as movies, TV dramas anddocumentaries is stored, and provides corresponding video data from thevideo contents 116 upon receipt of a request for the video data from theMS 100 via the IP network, Internet 112. The traffic information server118 contains traffic condition image data which is inputted throughcameras 120, each established on a plurality of roads, and provides theMS 100 with the traffic condition image data of a corresponding road inreal-time upon receipt of a request for the traffic information of theroad from the MS 100. The security server 122, preferably a PC, collectssecurity condition image data which is inputted through a camera 124established in each area of a particular place such as a home and anoffice, and provides the security condition image data of acorresponding area in real-time upon receipt of a request for thesecurity information of the area from the MS 100.

A VOD server 108, connected to the MSC 104, stores VOD contents for thevideo data and the traffic condition image data, which has been uploadedfrom the video server 114 and the traffic information server 118, in aVOD contents DB (database) 110. The VOD server 108 retrievescorresponding data from the VOD contents DB 110 requested by the userfrom the video data and the traffic condition image data, and providesthe MS 100 with the data from the VOD contents DB 110.

FIG. 2 illustrates protocol stacks of elements of the multimedia systemshown in FIG. 1. In the MS 100, a request from the user is transmittedto lower layers through an upper application layer that is for auser-interface. Further, TCP (Transmission Control Protocol), UDP (UserDatagram Protocol)/IP protocols are used for Internet wirelesscommunication, PPP (Point-to-Point Protocol) and RLP (Radio LinkProtocol) are used for Internet access using a point-to-point method,and IS-2000 protocol is used in a physical layer.

The MSC 104 adapts the RLP protocol for transmitting packet data bywireless and the IS-2000 protocol in the physical layer for interfacingwireless data with the MS 100. Further, the MSC 104 has a relay layerfor connection with the IWF 106. The IWF 106 transmits/receives datato/from the web servers 114, 118 and 122 via the Internet with a relaylayer for cooperation with the MSC 104 and has the PPP stack forInternet access using a point-to-point method. Further, the MSC 104 hasa packet data processing unit for processing packet datatransmitted/received via the Internet. Each of the web servers 114, 118,122 has TCP, UDP/IP protocol stack for Internet communication. The webservers 114, 118, 122 convert data transmitted through the upperapplication layer to packet data for TCP, UDP/IP protocol Internetcommunication and transmits the packet data to each server. The VODserver 108, like the web servers 114, 118 and 122 comprises an upperapplication layer and TCP, UDP/IP protocol stacks for Internetcommunication.

FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of a mobile communication terminal towhich the present application is applicable. A more detailed operationof each element of the mobile communication terminal is described inKorean Application No. P2000-22107 filed by and assigned to the sameassignee of this application.

With reference to FIG. 3, the controller 204 controls the wholeoperation of the mobile communication terminal such as phoneconversation and other general functions (telephone numbers management,schedule management, voice dialing and bell mode selection). A memory202 stores a variety of programs for performing the operation of themobile communication terminal such as the telephone number data, theschedule data, and so on. An RF (Radio Frequency) section 200transmits/receives radio signals and performs up/down-conversion,filtering and amplification on the received and transmitted radiosignals. A key input section 205 comprises number keys and a pluralityof function keys. Further, a mouse, a touch screen, etc. can be usedadditionally for the multimedia service according to an embodiment ofthe present invention. A display 206 comprises TFT (Thin FilmTransistor) color LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) and displays characterinformation, menu information, still image, moving image and so on. ACODEC (Coder/Decoder) 214 decodes received voice from the microphone andoutputs it, or encodes voice data inputted through the microphone andoutputs it. Generally, the CODEC 214 comprises a DSP (Digital SignalProcess) chip. A switching section 216 switches the voice outputted fromthe CODEC 214 and the voice inputted by the user, to form a path to theCODEC 214 or an earphone 218 and a speaker or a microphone of the mobilecommunication terminal, respectively. The image processing unit 208buffers the character information, the menu information, the still imageand the moving image received from the controller 204 and multimediaprocessing unit 210, D/A converts them, and then transmits them to thedisplay 206. The multimedia processing unit 210 connects to acorresponding server and requests data according to a request for amultimedia service by a user. When the voice and image data arereceived, the multimedia processing unit 210, after buffering, outputsthe voice and image data in real-time. The image data is outputtedthrough the image processing unit 208. The menu and characterinformation is transmitted to the controller 204 to be outputted. Thevoice data is outputted through the CODEC 214. The voice switchingsection 212 switches general voice from the controller 204 and voice orreal audio relating to the moving image from the multimedia processingunit 210 to the CODEC 214.

FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C are flow charts illustrating a procedure forperforming the multimedia service according to an embodiment of thepresent invention. The figures correspond to video (VOD) service,traffic information service and security service, respectively.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of images on the display of the mobilecommunication terminal during the VOD service according to an embodimentof the present invention. FIG. 6 illustrates an example of images on thedisplay of the mobile communication terminal during the trafficinformation service according to an embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 7 illustrates an example of images on the display of the mobilecommunication terminal during the security service according to anembodiment of the present invention.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail withreference to the FIGS. 4A to 7.

First, the operation control flow for the video service from themultimedia service according to an embodiment of the present inventionwill be described hereinafter with reference to FIG. 4A. When a userintends to use multimedia service with the mobile communicationterminal, he can enter a menu mode including the multimedia service, andselect “multimedia service” which is added into the menu according to anembodiment of the present invention.

As stated above, the multimedia service comprises receiving variousvoice and image information in real-time and displaying it on thedisplay 206 in a moving image. In step 300, the controller 204 checkswhether “multimedia service” is selected from the menu. If so, in step302, the multimedia service menu for the multimedia service is displayedas shown in FIG. 5 a. The video service in the multimedia service menucomprises downloading various video data such as movies, TV dramas,documentaries and so on from the video server 114 connected to theInternet 112 and providing them to the mobile communication terminal forthe user's seeing and hearing. The traffic information service comprisesreceiving the traffic condition image data from a number of cameras 120established on roads, which are connected to a traffic control centervia the Internet 112, and providing the user with the current trafficcondition image data of each road. Further, the security servicecomprises receiving the security condition image data of areas via theInternet 112, which is inputted through the camera 124 connected to thePC 122 in an office or in the home, and providing the user at a remotedistance with the security condition image data of each area.

In step 302, the user can select a desired service from the multimediaservice menu displayed on the display 206. If the user selects the“video service” among the multimedia service menu, the controller 204proceeds from step 304 to step 306, and requests the user to input an IP(Internet Protocol) address of the VOD server 108 and the user's ID(identification) and password for connection to the VOD server 108connected to the MSC 104 as shown in FIG. 5 b. In response to thisrequest, the user inputs the IP address of the VOD server 108 and theuser's ID and password for connection to the VOD server 108, and thecontroller 204 proceeds to step 310 to request a connection to the VODserver 108 connected to the MSC 104. The MSC 104 transmits the user's IDand password to the VOD server 108. The VOD server 108 receives therequest for connection from the MSC 104 and identifies the received IDand password. If the received ID and password proves to be an authorizedID and password, that is to say, if the received ID and password areidentical to those registered in the VOD server 108, the VOD server 108allows the mobile terminal to access it. The controller 204 proceedsfrom step 312 to step 314 and downloads a video list from the VOD server108 and displays it on the display 206.

FIG. 5 c shows an example of the video list from the VOD server 108displayed on the display 206. The VOD server 108 transmits the videolist shown in FIG. 5 c, and allows the user to select his desired video.

Accordingly, the user sees the video list displayed as shown in FIG. 5 cand the video he desires. The controller 204 recognizes the videoselection input from the user in step 316, and proceeds to step 318 torequest the VOD server 108 to download the video data selected by theuser. According to this request, the VOD server 108 retrieves therequested video data from the VOD contents DB 110, and transmits it tothe corresponding mobile communication terminal via the MSC 104. In step320, the controller 204 displays the video data transmitted from the VODserver 108 in a moving image as shown in FIG. 5 d or stores thetransmitted video data and displays it in a moving image upon requestedby the user later on.

Next, the operation control flow for the traffic information servicefrom the multimedia service according to an embodiment of the presentinvention will be described with reference to FIG. 4B.

If the user selects the “traffic information service” from themultimedia information service menu displayed on the display 206 in step302, as shown in FIG. 6 a, the controller 204 proceeds from step 322 tostep 324 and requests the user to input an IP address of the VOD server108 and the user's ID and password for connection to the VOD server 108which is connected to the MSC 104 as shown in FIG. 6 b. Then, the userinputs the IP address of the VOD server 108 and the user's ID andpassword for connection to the VOD server 108 via the MSC 104 in step326, and the controller 204 proceeds to step 310 to request a connectionto the VOD server 108 connected to the MSC 104.

In response to this request, the MSC 104 transmits the user's ID andpassword to the VOD server 108. The VOD server 108 receives the requestfor connection from the MSC 104 and identifies the received ID andpassword. If the received ID and password proves to be an authorized IDand password, that is to say, if the received ID and password areidentical to those registered in the VOD server 108, the VOD server 108allows the mobile communication terminal to connect to it Then, as aresult of the connection to the VOD server 108, the controller 204proceeds from step 330 to step 332 and downloads traffic informationservice road list from the VOD server 108 and displays it on the display206.

FIG. 6 c shows an example of the traffic information service road listfrom the VOD server 108 displayed on the display 206. The VOD server 108transmits the traffic information service road list, for which cameras120 are established, as shown in FIG. 6 c, and allows the user to selectthe road for which the user desires to have the traffic information.

Accordingly, the user sees the traffic information service road list forwhich the traffic information can be provided, displayed as shown inFIGS. 6 c and 6 d and selects the road he desires in a regular sequence.The controller 204 recognizes the road selection input from the user instep 334, and proceeds to step 336 to request the VOD server 108 todownload the traffic condition image data of the road selected by theuser. The VOD server 108 retrieves the requested traffic condition datafrom the VOD contents DB 110, and transmits it to the mobilecommunication terminal via the MSC 104. Then, in step 338, thecontroller 204 displays the traffic condition data transmitted from theVOD server 108 in a moving image as shown in FIG. 6 a, or stores thetraffic condition image data and displays it in a moving image uponrequest by the user later on.

Lastly, the operation control flow for the security service among themultimedia service according to an embodiment of the present inventionwill be described with reference to FIG. 4C.

If the user selects the “security service” from the multimedia servicemenu displayed on the display 206 in step 302 as shown in FIG. 7 a, thecontroller 204 proceeds from step 340 to step 342 and requests the userto input an IP address of the security server, the PC 122 in an officeor in the home, and the user's ID and password for connection to the PC122 which is connected to the MSC 114 via the Internet 112 as shown inFIG. 7 b. The user inputs the IP address of the PC 122 connected to theMSC 104 via the Internet 112 in step 344, and the controller 204proceeds from step 344 to step 345 to request a connection to the PC 122connected to the MSC 104. In response to this request, the MSC 104transmits the user's ID and password to the PC 122. The PC 112 receivesthe request from the MSC 104 and identifies the received ID andpassword. If the received ID and password prove to be an authorizeduser's ID and password, that is to say, if the received ID and passwordare identical to those registered in the VOD server 108, the PC 122allows the mobile communication terminal to connect to it. Then, as aresult of the connection to the PC 122, the controller 204 proceeds fromstep 348 to step 350 and downloads security service area list from thePC 122 and displays it on the display 206.

FIG. 7 c illustrates an example of the security service area list fromthe PC 122 displayed on the display 206. The PC 122 downloads thesecurity service area list of the office or the home where cameras 124are established and allows the user to select the area for which theuser desires to have the security information. The user sees thesecurity service area list for which the security information can beprovided, displayed as shown in FIG. 7 c, and selects the area hedesires in a regular sequence. Then, the PC 122 recognizes the areaselection input from the user in step 352, and proceeds to step 354 torequest the PC 122 to download the security condition image data of thearea selected by the user.

According to this request, the PC 122 transmits the security conditionimage data inputted through the camera 124 of the selected area to themobile communication terminal via the MSC 104 in real-time. Then, instep 356, the controller 204 downloads and displays the securitycondition image data in real-time on the display 206 in a moving imageas shown in FIG. 7 d, or downloads and displays the security conditionimage data of the area upon request by the user later on.

As a result, even when moving, the user can see multimedia informationsuch as video, traffic information, security information in a movingimage by using a the mobile communication terminal. As described above,by virtue of the present invention, it is possible to enjoy multimediaservice such as TV broadcasting service, VOD service, trafficinformation service and security service by using a mobile communicationterminal.

While the invention has been shown and described with reference to acertain preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood by thoseskilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be madetherein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention asdefined by the appended claims.

1. A system for providing multimedia service, comprising: a mobilecommunication terminal for accessing an Internet in response to arequest for multimedia information by a user and displaying themultimedia information downloaded from the Internet on a display; and amobile switching center for accessing, in response to the request forthe multimedia information from the mobile communication terminal, a webserver containing the multimedia information and being connected to theInternet and transmitting the multimedia information received from theweb server to the mobile communication terminal; and a Video-On-Demand(VOD) server connected to the mobile switching center for storing VODcontents provided from the web server in response to a request by theuser and downloading the VOD contents to the mobile communicationterminal, wherein the web server contains various multimedia informationand provides the multimedia information requested by the mobilecommunication terminal to the mobile communication terminal via themobile switching center.
 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein theweb server is a video server which retrieves video data requested by themobile communication terminal from a database containing various videocontents, and provides the video data to the mobile communicationterminal.
 3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the web server isa traffic information server which stores traffic condition image datainputted through cameras established on a plurality of roads, andprovides traffic condition image data of a road requested by the mobilecommunication terminal to the mobile communication terminal.
 4. Thesystem according to claim 1, wherein the web server is a security serverwhich stores security condition image data inputted through camerasestablished in areas of a particular place, and provides securitycondition image data of an area requested by the mobile communicationterminal to the mobile communication terminal.
 5. The system accordingto claim 1, wherein the VOD server is included in the mobile switchingcenter. 6-17. (canceled)